Paganism in Modern Russia
Sunday July 5, 2009
We spend a lot of time here discussing activities related to Pagans in the English-speaking world, and it's sometimes easy to overlook the fact that there are Pagans and Wiccans all over the globe. Newsday has an interesting article reminding us of that, in which they interview several members of a Russian Pagan group.
Paganism has faced a lot of obstacles in Russia, no small thanks to the Orthodox church, which regularly denounces practices that are based in ancient Slavic tradition. In addition, some Pagans have been linked to right-wing extremist groups, and so mainstream society tends to see them as controversial.
At any rate, it's an interesting peek at a small group of people who gathered near Maloyaroslavets to celebrate the summer solstice. The ritual, which was a fertility celebration known as Ivan Kupala, focused on "self-purification, unity with forces of nature and the honoring of the Sun god."
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Paganism has faced a lot of obstacles in Russia, no small thanks to the Orthodox church, which regularly denounces practices that are based in ancient Slavic tradition. In addition, some Pagans have been linked to right-wing extremist groups, and so mainstream society tends to see them as controversial.
At any rate, it's an interesting peek at a small group of people who gathered near Maloyaroslavets to celebrate the summer solstice. The ritual, which was a fertility celebration known as Ivan Kupala, focused on "self-purification, unity with forces of nature and the honoring of the Sun god."
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Comments
this is in interesting article, thank you for sharing it. i think the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia doesn’t approve even of Protestant Christian groups in Russia.
the racism stuff is pretty sad.
Im used to live in Belarus and Ivan Kupala was very important to us and I have never missed it(it was so much fun).But there was many ppl orthodox and so was my grandma but a lot of them practiced magick.From healing to making bad dreams go away.It was really normal to us.I didnt know there is Ivan Kupala in Russia,its not Russian thing.I live in russia for 6 years and none of my friends have ever heard about it.
lil fix
I used to*
I lived*
Thank you for such a powerful and direct response to the person who possed the question. I find it an honour that we now have our voice heard in the Military and that our practices and beleifs are being supported in the Military today.
It is interesting as just recently one our Members in our Temple came to me for Sponsorship to lead a Faith Based Group for Pagans in the Military and this is a new project for us, but one in which I as well as the Temple are more than Honoured to accept.
When our voices are heard it makes for a Unity in all Religions and for a Reality to be faced with greater knowledge in which we can all gain from, if we so desire.
Many Blessings
Rev. Arinanna